Can you recondition engineering of the past and modernise it to have a vogue appeal? Yes, you sure can...
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackersCal
You may have heard of Singer Vehicle Design… If not, fear not: they are an American company who recommissions old Porsche 911s from between 1989 and 1994.
Essentially, take a 911 model from that era and give it a new lease of life with a fresh, modern interpretation; thereby keeping the best of the old school 911 whilst injecting a new bloodline of life to reinvigorate an iconic concept. This I approve of. The latest 911 being reborn is the 964 from 1990; but these changes are not merely cosmetic or visual; Singer wanted to create the most demanding and formidable project to date.
Named Dynamic and Lightweighting Study, (DLS for short), it would be according to boss Rob Dickinson, the “ultimate, no compromise air cooled 911.” Strong words. Words that make my knees tremble with giddiness and my voice blurt and splutter in fits of giggles. Unsurprisingly, with a project of this ambition and scale, specialist engineering involvement became paramount to live up to the visionary concept. To conquer this seismic challenge, Singer has collaborated with Williams Advanced Engineering to produce the beating heart of this cacophony of noise, pantomime and drama.
The engine that has been built to this vision is something unique. Singer realised a bespoke, carefully crafted unit needed to put in the back of this reimagined 911 DLS, to ignite a soul worthy of the project’s restoration. With the help of Williams’ Engineering gurus, the result is a 4.0 litre naturally aspirated air-cooled unit, that revs all the way to 9000rpm. Oh goody. In their efforts to ensure exclusivity, they grasped the expertise of a man celebrated as one of Porsche’s most prolific engine designers, Hans Mezger, who acted as a technical consultant on the engines commission.
So, what is the number of horses the DLS can spurn and burn out of those rear tyres? A nice simple clean number: 500bhp. Oh goody. Combine that with the DLS weighing just 1000kg, and from where I’m sitting, the engineers have struck a real sweet spot for power and weight. This idyllic alignment meshed together has all the ingredients to be a rare Singer 911 that might be something truly special to drive. A cocktail of emotion, passion and desire. Oh goody.
So how have Singer made the DLS fit its intended blueprint? Well, as it turns out, they have thrown not just the sink at the project, but the bathtub as well. They paired up with Williams Advanced Engineering, whose list of tasks looked at the aerodynamics, components in the engine and the suspension. Following this mantra of pulling out all the stops, Singer collaborated with renowned industry names that are deployed all over the DLS.
Michelin customized bespoke Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tyres; Hewland created a lightweight magnesium six-speed transmission and BBS modernised the iconic Fuchs wheels, forged from a magnesium mono bloc. The rear rims are so deeply set that it almost looks like the drum of a washing machine or tumble dryer; it gives the DLS a squat, tort presence. Brembo, Momo and Recaro also had a hand in their respective areas of specialist expertise too.
Lightweight materials are mainstream for the DLS (unsurprising, check DLS again…) with carbon fibre, magnesium and titanium featuring heavily in every nook and cranny of body work and component possible. Whilst these materials are utilised for a strict form following function basis; their intended purpose can’t help but diversify into another realm, this car is not just a piece of car porn, but in my opinion, a piece of exquisite art; a level of appreciation few cars ever reach.
Now I haven’t driven this car (sad face) but I have heard the engine on YouTube. Admittingly, not the most accurate platform to interpret the engine notes composed from the DLS, but bear with me. Because there is something almost mythical about this engine. The noise, the character; it is transfixing. That subconscious vibe of energy is reflected when you flip up the rear bonnet that exposes the heart of this car, it almost resembles a sculpture more than a power unit.
That notion though quickly becomes a second thought when the engine is ignited. And this is no ordinary engine. When revving in its element, in its flow, you can hear and feel the distilled purity of essence of natural aspiration: screaming snap, crackle and pop as it backfires from the titanium exhaust. It is piercing and deafening like the noise of a Spitfire firing up; the spit and spatter of the 4.0 litre unit reminding you of its very febrile and raucous edge that challenges your inhibitions to the very core. You need a magic touch to tame this enigmatic cross-bred wet dream; something that you can forgive the DLS for, as I would imagine any lack of mastery of its difficult nature resides in the driver’s inability to drive to the demanded level.
The devil is in the detail they say. And this Porsche 911 964 DLS is fastidious about intricate styling cues in every single way. The nostalgic references dotted purposefully on the car add a special quality that tempt child-like excitement and enthusiasm from depths of being that are rarely resurrected. The infamous ducktail spoiler and the bespoke Fuchs wheels are gloriously revived in a retro guise that both hark back to the synonymous 1973 Carrera RS; leaving enthusiasts and purists alike drooling in a puddle of their desire. In this essence, the DLS could be referred to as a modern incarnation of a purified Porsche 911.
The Heart Attack red paint accentuates the silhouette of a car that oozes class and meticulous craftsmanship; it is achingly gorgeous to cast you eyes at and even more trembling to touch. Even for the most cold-hearted critics holding resentful opinions about Porsche and its 911’s across the past half century, notably the stereotypes attributed to its non-conformity chassis and engine layout, would find it hard not to succumb to its benign and beguiling styling. For the Singer DLS has an appeal that unwittingly lures you in such an all-consuming hypnotic trance, that it would prove difficult to resist no matter the foundation and depth of your conviction and prejudices.
Any issues I hear you ask? Well, there is one slight problem, and then another slightly bigger problem than that. The slight problem is that it isn’t quite finished yet. Restorations begin in the spring in Oxfordshire with first deliveries received in late 2019. Patience is a trait required then, tricky if your passion for the project borders on obsession. It will be needed though, the car itself hasn’t entirely finished its development cycle yet; some adjustments to electronics, flushing out of the interior and a little sound deafening is to be added to name just a few.
The other slightly bigger problem is more fundamental. Price and availability. It will cost $1.8m, which is troublesome for most people, really. But even more problematic is that only 75 will be made, and they are all sold. Bit of a blow. Still, it makes for a good background wallpaper on your laptop screen.
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackersCal
Photos: Singer Vehicle Design
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